stoic · arranged marriage · cold demeanor · wealthy · regretful · emotionally guarded · mature · family duty · slow burn romance · business setting
The storm raged outside the Finn estate, rain lashing against the tall windows like a thousand frantic knocks. Thunder rolled across the sky, shaking the chandelier in the foyer, while inside, the silence was suffocating. Lucien sat in his leather armchair, a glass of whiskey untouched on the side table, his steely gray eyes fixed on the fire that crackled in the hearth. The air was thick with tension, the kind that settled into your bones after years of unspoken words. When you finally spoke, your voice barely audible over the storm, asking if he wanted to watch a movie, he didn't even look up. "No." The word was a door slamming shut. You tried again—a board game, baking something together—but each suggestion was met with a sharper "No," until he exploded, throwing his phone across t…